Robert McLachlan

Yes, it's annoying that electricity prices have risen – up 7% in real terms in a year. But it's still cheaper than in 2015, and meanwhile the proportion of fossil generation has been forced down from 34% to 5% in 20 years – good prep should gas run out. Overall, an impressive performance.

NZ uses 5.5 billion litres of oil for transport each year. Fleet improvements in 2020-2023 are saving 230 ML a year, plus more than 0.5 MtCO2 of emissions and $500m in fuel. If we had not weakened our fuel economy standards, we'd be saving another 130 ML a year & $280m in costs by now. So dumb.

Inchbonnie

In New Zealand, utility solar has just surpassed gas power for the first full calendar month. It's surpassed coal on 8 previous months, first in October 2024. I expect utility solar will beat coal and gas combined in October 2026. NZ may be a late starter to solar but we will be fast followers.

The latest AIs were asked to assess 42 retracted, fraudulent, and pseudoscientific papers; they failed 90% of the time. "AI can spit out whole lists of plausible-sounding research plans based on bullshit premises... The tide of slop is rising." www.science.org/content/blog...

Have you read the UK Government report on ecosystem collapse? "If current rates of biodiversity loss continue, every critical ecosystem is on a pathway to collapse." assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/696e0e...

How far do our #ClimateShadows stretch? Who we vote for, what we talk about, where attention goes and what we make normal. Our climate shadows should overshadow our carbon footprints. Visual #30 of 100+ 🌳 www.climatetrunk.com/infographics... @kimberlynicholas.bsky.social @katharinehayhoe.com

The floating LNG tank will be designed to very rigorous maritime engineering standards so that the front doesn't fall off. But to be on the safe side, it will be towed out beyond the environment. www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

What will life be like after the ecological collapse?

Not trying to downplay this but 0.40 ºC/decade is much higher than other estimates and is entirely based on the past 3 hot years, which is not much data. I ran their analysis for 1970-2022 and at that point there was no statistically significant acceleration.

Finland has domestic aviation emissions of 28 kgCO2/p; New Zealand 177 kg. The New Zealand government has just subsidized regional airlines, first with loans (one to an airline that only flies to a private offshore rates-exempt avocado orchard) and now with grants.

Kiwis in Climate are making three calls for the next intake of politicians to focus on. If you're concerned about our future, ask your candidates if they will answer the #KiCcall. www.kiwisinclimate.org/election/ #election2026

📚PHANZA is delighted to feature Professor Katie Pickles’ review of Elizabeth Cox's Mr Ward’s Map: Victorian Wellington Street by Street in the current issue of the New Zealand Journal of Public History. phanza.org.nz/wp-content/u...

Investment plans for science, innovation and tech released – Expert Reaction

Context

Another massive month for EVs in NZ EV with 4138 new light EVs (ie cars, utes, and vans combined) sold, 2nd highest on record. 25% market share. Source: evdb.nz, always quick to update.

Did you know Palmerston North is the Chinese pig-roasting capital of New Zealand? temanawamuseumsociety.org/2026/09/26/p...

My position on why the EU- NZ trade agreement complaint’s so serious- we can’t have it both ways - we can’t claim to be honest brokers on a world stage while at home we’re not keeping to the fair climate/sustainability rules we expect our trade partners to also stick to www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

If you’re flying internationally, the emissions don’t even count towards NZ’s emissions target. The Climate Commission wanted to include them, but the Govt decided otherwise. www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2025/12/04/s...

New NZ utility solar records set on 24 & 29 Sep, 550 MW peak, 4408 MWh for the day, due to the Tauhei & Kowhai Park solar farms (each 150 MW) entering service. Will double in next 12 months. Previous record was 360 MW set in August during Tauhei commissioning.

Greenpeace Aotearoa joins complaint to EU over NZ’s climate policy regression The complaint addresses Government reversal of climate policies, which Greenpeace has labelled a 'race to the bottom on environmental regulation'. www.greenpeace.org/aotearoa/pre...

And the price of listening to ACT, Fed Farmers, and Groundswell are starting to pay their dividends. A complaint has been laid that NACT1 has breached our Trade Agreement with the EU. The EC will investigate and sanctions can include TRADE Sanctions against farmers newsroom.co.nz/2026/09/30/f...

The National-led coalition government is a DISASTER for Ao/NZ. NZ accused of breaking climate change agreement with EU www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

What a surprise 🙄. Consequences. NZ accused of breaking climate change promise with #EU, but Todd McClay rejects claim #ClimateChange #TradeAgreements www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

You sure Todd? And if the EC and UK decide to trade sanction our farmers? Then what smart arse

A Dutch environmental group claims New Zealand has broken its #climatechange promises in the free trade agreement with the EU and is lodging the first complaint of its kind through the European Commission. www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

For 3 years, the New Zealand government has fucked around on climate to satisfy its rich backers – cancelling climate action & funding new fossil fuel projects. The finding-out phase has now begun. www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic... Thanks for nothing, Christopher Luxon. #nzpol #NZEUFTA #eu #climate

McClay: "NZ takes its international obligations seriously and always meets them." – e.g. our 2030 Paris Agreement target? "It is not for overseas countries or organisations to tell NZ how to meet its obligations." – not true: the complaint process is specifically written into the FTA.

Read all about it! Nat gov't torpedoes FTA by backtracking on #ClimateAction. Free trade down the tubes and billions to pay in offshore mitigation... excellent financial management, Prime Minister. climatemattersnz.substack.com/p/nz-in-the-...

When the government consulted on NZ's space policy a few years ago, I don't remember this coming up: www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

“This election will determine the future of Denniston”. Fast-track application to mine Denniston Plateau on West Coast rejected.. (for now) www.rnz.co.nz/news/environ...

👀👀👀

1/ People keep saying AI is inevitable. History disagrees. Plenty of technologies were called unstoppable, and societies stopped them or shrank them down to a niche. A thread 🧵